Interestingly enough, I started my professional training in Indian Classical Dance after I moved to UK and became a medical consultant. Today, I perform at a professional level. Odissi is the oldest form of the 8 Indian Classical Dances, which originated in the ancient coastal temples of India, in the Eastern State of Odisha.

Recently we performed at the beautiful Cross-Rail Roof Gardens of Canary Wharf collaborating with Space Theatre. This green space was inspired by the Eden Project and is actually a miniature version of it, amidst the concrete jungle.

I coined the name of our presentation, “Nisargh – from the womb of the earth to the cradle of nature”. Nisargh (paradise) celebrated the beauty and abundance of Nature through dance. The dances presented upheld how seeds germinate and flowers bloom with the rain, the joy Spring brings with bursting colours and the fertile river banks allure women to fetch water amongst the lotuses and water-lillies.

We were pleasantly surprised to find out that the tickets had sold out weeks before the event and despite the pouring rain on the day of the performance (the irony of our theme!), the arena was packed!

The love and appreciation we receive through dance, motivates me and gives me a purpose in life. Dance heals me, mentally and physically and helps me meet people, whom I would never have known otherwise.

/Sutapa